Joseph Sherman Simmerman (1865 - 1929)

Born 20 Mar 1865 in McLean, Illinois, USA

Ancestors

Died 14 Jul 1929 at age 64 in Johnson, Missouri

Biography

Biographical Sketch of Joe Simmerman, Johnson County, Missouri,Centerview Township.

From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918.

Joe Simmerman, a leading merchant of Greendoor, Missouri, for the past twenty-six years, is a prominent citizen and successful farmer and stockman of Centerview township. Mr. Simmerman, while a native of Illinois, is a member of a highly respected Johnson county pioneer family. He is a son of W. T. and Margaret Simmerman. W. T. Simmerman was born in Virginia, a son of Thomas Simmerman, who was born in Vir- ginia in 1793. Thomas Simmerman came from Virginia to Missouri in the early part of the nineteenth century and settled on a tract of land comprising 124 acres located in Columbus township. He prospered well in the new Western home and became widely known in Johnson county as an enterprising and successful farmer and stockman. Mr. Thomas Simmerman died in February, 1874 and his son, W. T., born in Missouri, remained on the home place for several years continuing the work his father had begun.

W. T. Simmerman spent some time in Illinois and a part of one year in Johnson county, Kansas, after which he returned to Johnson county, Missouri, in 1866, and purchased 86 acres of land in Centerview town- ship, to which he later added forty acres, thus forming a valuable stock and grain farm of 126 acres, near Greendoor, Missouri. Mr. Simmerman was the popular and efficient postmaster of Greendoor for twelve years. He was ever active in politics, being an influential member of the Republican party, and at one time was elected justice of the peace of Centerview township, but refused to accept the office. W. T. Simmerman had a host of friends in Johnson county. He was known and admired for his honorable business dealings and strong moral char- acter not only in this county but even beyond its confines. Mr. Simmerman died April 24, 1905. His widow still survives her husband and is now making her home with her son, Joe, the subject of this re- view, who was born March 20, 1865.

The first school Joe Simmerman attended was a private school taught by his cousin, Miss Isabel Renick. Mr. Simmerman was born just at the close of the Civil War, in 1865, and in his childhood there were as yet few public schools established in Johnson county. At a later time, John W. McGivens was employed as teacher of the public school of which Mr. Simmerman was a pupil.

He personally knew Reverend Pitts, in whose honor Pittsville was named, and Reverend J. H. Houx, Peter and Thomas Cobb, and Finis King, effec- tive pioneer preachers of Johnson county in the early seventies. When Mr. Simmerman was a youth, much of this county was open prairie and pasture land. Wild game abounded and he tells an interesting story of how he assisted in netting quail in those days of the long ago. He states that netters always obeyed an unwritten law of quail hunters, namely: to turn loose a male and female from every covey they captur- ed.

In 1890, Joe Simmerman and Mattie J. Hinkle, daughter of John Hinkle, a resident of Johnson county for many years, were united in marriage and to this union has been born one child, a daughter, Beulah, who is now Mrs. Middleton of Rural Route 3, Warrensburg, Missouri. In addition to his mercantile interests in Greendoor, Mr. Simmerman owns a farm of 126 acres of land and is engaged in raising stock extensively and in general farming. He is at present interested in Poland China hogs and Durham cattle. Mr. Simmerman keeps pure-bred animals and is the owner of a splendid pure-bred Durham male. The farm is supplied with plenty of water and farm buildings. This past season of 1917, twenty acres of the place were in corn and 460 bushels of oats and 64 bushels of rye were harvested. Mr. Simmerman is a very intelligent and prosperous merchant.

Burial

Jacoby Chapel Cemetery Warrensburg Johnson County Missouri, USA

Sources

No sources. The events of Joseph's life were either witnessed by Vicki Norman or Vicki plans to add sources here later.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Vicki Norman for creating Simmerman-25 on 8 Nov 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Vicki and others.

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